Interview 1 (Senior, Business Management Major and Accounting Minor)
Q1: How do you balance social life and academics?
A: Doesn't really think about it, everything just flows together
Q2: Do you eat breakfast?
A: Sometimes
Q3: Do you keep a daily planner?
A: Yes
Q4: Are you happy in your current major?
A: Yes
Q5: Why did you choose your current major?
A: Wanted to expand leadership capabilities, their CA job also had and influence on major
Q6: Does your major offer job security, and did that influence your choice?
A: Relative security, did influence decision
Q7: Was there any pressure from an outside source (positive or negative) that influenced your choice of major?
A: Yes, positive pressure from parents, they knew student should go into business, at first student was opposed but then took beginner courses and grew to enjoy being in the business world.
Q8: Have you ever changed your major and why? If not, do you want to change your major and why?
A: Was previously an accounting major until realizing that business management was a better fit, however they were able to complete enough courses to have the minor.
Q9: Do you have a minor? If not, do you want one and why?
A: Yes, accounting minor
Q9a: Are you happy in the minor?
A: Very happy to have completed all of the requirements for it
Q9b: What influenced your decision to choose that minor?
A: Started out as an accounting major, and figured they might as well get something out of it
Q10: Is your major something similar to what your parents/guardians do for a living?
A: No
Q11: Is your major a subject that you excelled at in grade school?
A: No, never had business classes before college
Q12: When you were still applying for colleges in high school, were there other majors that you were considering?
A: Not really, came to college undeclared
Interview 2 (Sophomore, Secondary Education Major and Educational Technology Minor)
Q1: How do you balance your social life and academics?
A: Plans their days out meticulously and puts time away for school work and social activity
Q2: Do you eat breakfast?
A: Sometimes
Q3: Do you keep a daily planner?
A: Yes
Q4: Are you happy in your current major?
A: Very happy
Q5: Why did you choose your current major?
A: Wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids, wants to offer a great experience to high school students like they had previously had
Q6: Does your major offer job security, and did that influence your choice?
A: Not necessarily sure, did not influence opinion
Q7: Was there any pressure from an outside source (positive or negative) that influenced your choice of major?
A: Mother was a very positive influence, was always supportive and always encouraging and helped the student stay in their major
Q8: Have you ever changed your major and why? If not, do you want to change your major and why?
A: Was previously secondary education English, but chose history because they liked the topic better
Q9: Do you have a minor? If not, do you want one and why?
A: Yes, educational technology
Q9a: Are you happy in your minor?
A: No courses taken yet and debating on keeping the minor, but knows that it will prove to be useful in the future
Q9b: What influenced your decision to choose that minor?
A: Could help them get a job, also believes that it is important to have a background in technology
Q10: Is your major something similar to what your parents/guardians do?
A: Not at all, both parents are nurses
Q11: Is your major a subject that you excelled at in grade school?
A: Yes, always good at history and loves it
Q12: When you were applying for colleges in high school, were there other majors you were considering?
A: Was always set on secondary education, but went back and forth between English and history
After interviewing these two upperclassmen the data suggests that when it comes to choosing a major, what someone's parent does does not always influences what someone decides to major in, as bother interviewees said that their parents' occupations were nothing close to what they were majoring in. Also, job security can influence someone to major in something, as well as someone wanting to expand their capabilities or wanting to offer a great experience to children. It also seems to suggest that, at least in the case of my interviewees, that students tend be happier once they change their major at least once, and usually pick up a minor to help them get a job.
Interview 1 (Senior, Business Management Major and Accounting Minor)
Q1: How do you balance social life and academics?
A: Doesn't really think about it, everything just flows together
Q2: Do you eat breakfast?
A: Sometimes
Q3: Do you keep a daily planner?
A: Yes
Q4: Are you happy in your current major?
A: Yes
Q5: Why did you choose your current major?
A: Wanted to expand leadership capabilities, their CA job also had and influence on major
Q6: Does your major offer job security, and did that influence your choice?
A: Relative security, did influence decision
Q7: Was there any pressure from an outside source (positive or negative) that influenced your choice of major?
A: Yes, positive pressure from parents, they knew student should go into business, at first student was opposed but then took beginner courses and grew to enjoy being in the business world.
Q8: Have you ever changed your major and why? If not, do you want to change your major and why?
A: Was previously an accounting major until realizing that business management was a better fit, however they were able to complete enough courses to have the minor.
Q9: Do you have a minor? If not, do you want one and why?
A: Yes, accounting minor
Q9a: Are you happy in the minor?
A: Very happy to have completed all of the requirements for it
Q9b: What influenced your decision to choose that minor?
A: Started out as an accounting major, and figured they might as well get something out of it
Q10: Is your major something similar to what your parents/guardians do for a living?
A: No
Q11: Is your major a subject that you excelled at in grade school?
A: No, never had business classes before college
Q12: When you were still applying for colleges in high school, were there other majors that you were considering?
A: Not really, came to college undeclared
Interview 2 (Sophomore, Secondary Education Major and Educational Technology Minor)
Q1: How do you balance your social life and academics?
A: Plans their days out meticulously and puts time away for school work and social activity
Q2: Do you eat breakfast?
A: Sometimes
Q3: Do you keep a daily planner?
A: Yes
Q4: Are you happy in your current major?
A: Very happy
Q5: Why did you choose your current major?
A: Wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids, wants to offer a great experience to high school students like they had previously had
Q6: Does your major offer job security, and did that influence your choice?
A: Not necessarily sure, did not influence opinion
Q7: Was there any pressure from an outside source (positive or negative) that influenced your choice of major?
A: Mother was a very positive influence, was always supportive and always encouraging and helped the student stay in their major
Q8: Have you ever changed your major and why? If not, do you want to change your major and why?
A: Was previously secondary education English, but chose history because they liked the topic better
Q9: Do you have a minor? If not, do you want one and why?
A: Yes, educational technology
Q9a: Are you happy in your minor?
A: No courses taken yet and debating on keeping the minor, but knows that it will prove to be useful in the future
Q9b: What influenced your decision to choose that minor?
A: Could help them get a job, also believes that it is important to have a background in technology
Q10: Is your major something similar to what your parents/guardians do?
A: Not at all, both parents are nurses
Q11: Is your major a subject that you excelled at in grade school?
A: Yes, always good at history and loves it
Q12: When you were applying for colleges in high school, were there other majors you were considering?
A: Was always set on secondary education, but went back and forth between English and history
After interviewing these two upperclassmen the data suggests that when it comes to choosing a major, what someone's parent does does not always influences what someone decides to major in, as bother interviewees said that their parents' occupations were nothing close to what they were majoring in. Also, job security can influence someone to major in something, as well as someone wanting to expand their capabilities or wanting to offer a great experience to children. It also seems to suggest that, at least in the case of my interviewees, that students tend be happier once they change their major at least once, and usually pick up a minor to help them get a job.